An integrative model for knowledge sharing in communities‐of‐practice

Purpose – This study attempts to identify the factors and relationships that influence community of practice (CoP) members' knowledge‐sharing attitudes, intentions, and behaviors. Design/methodology/approach – The Theory of Planned Behavior model, Motivation Theory, and the Triandis model were employed here. For the empirical validation, 282 responses from four Korean companies were collected. Findings – Whereas both extrinsic motivational and intrinsic motivational factors positively influenced attitude toward knowledge‐sharing behaviors, intrinsic motivational factors were more influential in this regard. Additionally, some differences in knowledge‐sharing mechanisms were noted between formally managed CoPs and informally nurtured CoPs. Research limitations/implications – Since the survey samples used herein were limited to Korean companies, the results of this study may prove ungeneralizable. Practical implications – For managers who intend to introduce CoPs to their firm, a CoP supportive environment must be created, such that the image, reciprocity, enjoyment of helping, and need for affiliation of each CoP member can be satisfied. Originality/value – This study is one of the first pieces of integrative research regarding CoPs to target understanding of the most crucial component of CoP activities, namely knowledge sharing.